County housing chief resigns

St. Johns County’s director of housing and community development turned in his letter of resignation to the County Commission on Thursday, accusing top administrators of withholding vital information from the commission.

Tom Crawford, a department head for 12 years, said job stress “had created such anger that for my own health, it became more than I was willing to endure any longer.”

His five-page resignation letter noted that the “most important issue” was county administrators making decisions to move forward — or not — on projects, and those decisions should be made by the County Commission through the process of a public hearing.

“Over the past several years, county administration has quietly reorganized departments and staff with a purpose that goes beyond efficient operations. They have instructed senior staff to cease direct communication with commissioners, thereby closing off staff and leaving administration as the sole source of information,” he said.

County Administrator Michael Wanchick said he was “very surprised” at the accusations.

“Tom has never approached me and asked to discuss any of the concerns he outlines in his letter,” Wanchick said. “He has been an excellent employee and a good friend. This seems very much out of character to me.”

Wanchick said that after he was hired as administrator, he sent a memo to the board concerning staff contact.

His Aug. 27, 2007, memo says in part, “It would be counter productive to establish a formal barrier between the commission and staff which is here to serve your needs.”

In addition, he suggested that commissioners contact him if they want staff to “perform research, conduct special projects or interpret public policy.” At least in this memo, he did not forbid staff to contact board members.

Crawford, a disabled Marine Corps combat veteran of Vietnam, was traveling out of state and unavailable Thursday.

His resignation letter cited examples of his claim that administrators had decided issues rather than the BCC.

For example, a non-profit group wanted to ask local banks to participate in the Federal Home Loan Bank, making it possible for veterans to be awarded grants of up to $15,000 for weatherization or handicapped accessibility.

Crawford said, “The participating banks had the potential to bring in up to one million dollars each into the county (providing construction jobs and helping local suppliers).”

When he forwarded that request to then-Chairman Mark Miner, he was told by supervisors that communications by staff were not permitted, he said.

“This clearly demonstrates that if closing off lines of communication with the BCC is happening on something as simple as this, it’s likely occurring with respect to far more significant matters as well,” he said.

‘Tom’s debacles’

Crawford also cited a staff meeting where Wanchick said the phrase “another one of Tom’s debacles” when referring to Kids Safe Zone funding at American Legion Post 194 in West Augustine.

“I was thinking of walking out right there and then, but decided I would simply keep low and let him proceed with the entire meeting,” he said.

The Kids Zone was approved for another year of funding.

Asked about that meeting Thursday, Wanchick said, “I don’t even recall the incident.”

However, Crawford’s biggest example involved the proposed Morgan’s Cove project off Interstate 95 in which the developers would spend $20 million on the construction of an Alzheimer’s and assisting living complex.

It would have generated 170 full-time jobs with projected tax revenues of $672,000 annually, he said.

“To me, this was clearly a decision to be made by the BCC,” he said. “(But) the administration clearly intended to provide a limited amount of information to the BCC, slanting it in a manner that would likely lead (elected officials) to deny further consideration of this project.”

He said he doesn’t know the administration’s motivation for the project.

“Maybe a public hearing would have made that known. Other senior (management) individuals are not in a position to say anything for fear of retribution. Under the surface, there is tremendous stress and discontent,” he said.

‘Not the Tom I know’

Wanchick said that Crawford chose to resign and wasn’t asked to resign or forced to resign.

“Why he would write a voluminous document like this is beyond me,” he said. “That’s not the Tom I know.”

Outgoing County Commission Chairman Ken Bryan said that Crawford has given a lot to the community.

“He’s going to be missed,” Bryan said. “A lot of things have caused stress on him. There may be some merit to (his accusations). But (Wanchick) has already apologized to the commission for not making us aware (of Morgan’s Cove).”

Some officials wonder if a hesitancy to bring Morgan’s Cove to a public hearing is because of its potential competition with the Council on Aging’s proposed Alzheimer’s unit in Ponte Vedra Beach.

Bryan said the Morgan’s Cove project has already been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget. The county would have to split a $6 million liability with the state, but the county is also first on the mortgage.

In case of a default by the developer, the county would pay that money but in return would get all the land and improvements already completed, which has a value of far more than $3 million.

“I’m still trying to determine why (Morgan’s Cove) is not a good project,” Bryan said.

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It is easy for ppl to just sit back and let others do the dirty work for them! Tom is the most honorable man I have had the pleasure of getting to know, he is kind, compassionate, patient, and genuinely cares for others! The proof is in the pudding! How very brave to go against the grain and step up and do the right thing with all the odds against him. I am so very proud of him, and hope he will consider running for County Commissioner and getting rid of Wang (after the letter C and before E)ick! Come on Tom...time to take the bull by the horns and replace one of those BCC! Yeah Baby! Go Marines!

Tom himself has talked about PTSD--unless you have served you don't have a clue about this....and the delayed aspects of it.....Tom has served this county well....but don't get all in an uproar and castigate others without your facts!

Once again you know naught of what you speak - you, sir, are without the proper facts. The PTSD is not the cause of this resignation by Mr. Crawford. But, yes, we do know that Tom has talked about PTSD and it is not a hidden factor. My questions to you are why the need to bring it into this discussion and where did you serve and in what branch of the military?

Finally someone coming forward about Wanchick. It's about time. And it's a shame that the county will lose a valuable and capable employee. There are many more, but they are unable to speak up for fear of their job. Kudos to him for having the guts to give the commission this very well written letter. I wish Thomas Crawford all the best in his retirement.

really, seminolosam - to suggest that Mr. Crawford's heartfelt sorrow and disgust at what is happening at the Housing Authority could be blamed on PTSD is truly ignorant about both him and PTSD.
If anything he is suffering from PBSD - post bureaucratic stress syndrome - and I am experiencing semnausea. Mr. Crawford's resignation is a great loss for the inhabitants of St. John's County.